HTC Evo 4G REVIEWS: What You Need To Know About Sprint's Smartphone

The HTC Evo 4G went on sale Friday at Sprint.com, Sprint retail stores, RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart. Hailed as a potential iPhone killer, the Evo is the first 4G phone to hit stores.

Engadget reported on queues forming outside Sprint stores in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Built on the Android 2.1 platform, the device starts at $199.99 with a two-year contract and features "industry-leading features" such as 3G and 4G usage, as well as the Evo's ability to create a personal mobile hotspot. Sprint is also offering unlimited data plans with the device; meanwhile, AT&T recently announced that it will no longer offer unlimited data for iPhone.

Its 4.3-inch TFT display, roomy onscreen keyboard, and Google picture search abilities have garnered positive reviews so far. Gizmodo called the HTC Evo it "the Escalade of smartphones." TechCrunch, says it is "the best Android phone yet."

The Evo's limited battery life is a major concern, but TechCrunch has some tips and tricks to extend the battery life.

Comments

[Lordcron]

03:11 AM on 06/09/2010

I need this phone. But I'll wait for 2.2 version of the OS before I get one. Maybe by then the price will go down a little.

[ocirotreup]

11:37 PM on 06/08/2010

how many "iPhone killers" have there now been? And how many of those have been Sprint phones. I lost count. Whatever the answer is, add this one. It's time they start trying to be something different. Innovate! OR at least market yourself as something new. Keep calling things the next iPhone killer only brings more marketing to the iPhone.

[jgeurian21]

10:47 AM on 06/09/2010

The only one calling it an iPhone killer is you.

[ocirotreup]

06:19 PM on 06/09/2010

If you're suggesting that I think this phone will "kill" the iPhone, outselling it or otherwise, you're wrong.

If you're suggesting that no phones of the last 3 years have been marketed as iPhone killers by their carriers you're dead wrong.

iPhone4 will sell more in the first weekend than this thing sells in it's first full month.

[Susan Murray]

07:32 PM on 06/08/2010

The real question is this:

If you already have a contract with AT&T or Sprint, is it worth breaking it to get the other phone? How many people would honestly say they would spend and extra $150 to $300 ETF to do that?

In this case, does it matter which one is better?

[gvscmr]

07:05 PM on 06/08/2010

T-Mobile has almost the identical phone called the HTC HD2 but it runs Windows Mobile

http://www.htc.com/us/products/t-mobile-hd2#overview

[Realityism]

03:38 PM on 06/08/2010

I just did some quick math to find the total cost of ownership for the iPhone 4 and the EVO, in case anyone's interested.

iPhone 4 on AT&T: $2252 over 2 years with 450 minutes (with rollover), free nights starting at 9, unlimited text, and a 2GB/mo. data limit. Data connection is 3G.

HTC EVO on Sprint: $2120 over 2 years with 450 minutes (no rollover), free nights starting at 7, free mobile-to-mobile calls on any network, unlimited text, no monthly limit on data, free tethering. Data connection is 3G as well as 4G WiMax in a few major cities.

So basically if you go with the EVO on Sprint you get far more perks for slightly less money.

[Morgantheaxe]

05:09 PM on 06/08/2010

Great info tks.

[Angelus2007]

08:27 PM on 06/08/2010

True, but don't forget the $50 for the 16GB Micro SD, the EVO only comes with 1GB of memory. Also, you can't use the phone and internet at the same time on the EVO; not EVOs fault, it is a CDMA drawback. For me the rollover minutes are nicer. I rarely use more than 200 minutes, so I have a nice bank of minutes, they come in handy when I go on vacation and never use my home phone.

[Vince Torres]

09:37 PM on 06/08/2010

lies lies it comes with 8gb mini sd card and you can use cdma phone and wimax at the same time

[cc82]

03:05 PM on 06/08/2010

The EVO's sold out already... looks like it's selling very well. Sprint's finally got the flagship phone they tried to get last year w/ the Pre:

http://gizmodo.com/5558416/htc-evo-4g-sold-out

[gvscmr]

04:07 PM on 06/08/2010

Hahahaha and some Apple iBot said on HuffPo yesterday that Sprint would only sell 3 Evo's... I asked him if he wanted to back his claim with a wager... Did not hear back from him.

Typical Apple iZealot

[Morgantheaxe]

05:09 PM on 06/08/2010

How many did they actually sell? If they only made 3 of em they could technically sell out by selling only 3 of em. Gimme statistics with your gloat. Oh and btw no Im not an "Apple Fanboy." Don't own a single piece of apple gear. I am what you call a "Truth Fanboy."

[KarateKid]

01:15 PM on 06/08/2010

To all the ones who have actually touched an EVO:

One of the things I like about the iPhone is it's solid feel, it's not light. Is the EVO as solid feeling, or is it like the EVO 3G, which felt like I was holding a toy, a light piece of plastic. It was fast, but that was about it.

I am going to look at both, but might not switch to either the EVO or iPhone 4 and just keep my iPhone 3G for another year.

[nowpolitics]

01:50 PM on 06/08/2010

EVO feels very solid to hold. It huge screen makes it appear big but if you keep it side-by-side with an iPhone 3GS they are of the same size. With the new iPhone spotting a tinnier frame. It will definitely make the HTC EVO 4G look like a tablet. But as far as spec goes there is one thing that breaks the new iPhone for me: Wifi Tethering!!! Being able to pull out your Android phone (be it EVO 4G or any other Android flavor for that matter) and using the phone as a router that connects many other devices (up to 8) to the internet is priceless. No more paying for Wifi while waiting at the Airport or in hotel rooms. (IF you are good enough, this can be completely FREE).

[KarateKid]

01:57 PM on 06/08/2010

Thanks. The tethering is very appealing, especially with something like the iPad, which ticks me off that they want a separate plan. A friend got a wifi iPad and uses his EVO to tether it; very cool. My only other concern is battery life. Any insights on that?

[wespenn56]

02:08 PM on 06/08/2010

Very solidly built. No "cheap feels" at all. Flies even at 3g. Tethering works great (I actually ran World of Warcraft through the hotspot flawlessly for over 4 hours).

[KarateKid]

02:46 PM on 06/08/2010

Thanks. I will definitely check it out.

[Joshdog]

09:29 AM on 06/08/2010

The EVO is a great phone, and that isn't diminished by the new iPhone 4 (which is also a great phone). We talked about the EVO's features back at CTIA http://www.techlicious.com/blog/the-best-phone-at-the-ctia-wireless-show-htcs-evo-4g/, many of which are still not available on the iPhone (e.g. 4G, HDMI out, wireless hotspot capability).

[WildTango]

04:40 PM on 06/08/2010

Yea, both phones are awesome. People who bash either one are ignorant.

[daddybum]

03:44 AM on 06/08/2010

What U need to know about EVO:
There were several "The next Michael Jordans"...while Jordan was still playing...Harold Miner'baby Jordan... Grant Hill...etc etc.... The thing is ..while M J was still suited up and on the hardwood he was the center of the B-Ball universe and all the pretenders were just that....PRETENDERS.....As long as S J (Steve Jobs) and the iphone are suited up and on the tech hardwood all others are simply pretenders.. and those who drink gallons of Haterade are in the same class as those who hate the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Yankees, or the Lakers etc..America embraces winners and those who are disgusted by dominant teams are whiners who should stop hating....get a damn iphone and get over it already..you know you want one....;-)

[wespenn56]

02:12 PM on 06/08/2010

Apple makes good products, no doubt. However, open your eyes (and your mind) and actually "try" the Evo. It's working great, even in 3g areas, and being a mobile hotspot is a great feature, hands down. Period. Don't hate the player, hate the game, bud. As for the iPhone, it's good (Evo's GREAT), but I do like my iPod over the other media players, if that makes you feel a bit better.

[Beaux510]

07:01 PM on 06/08/2010

I hate the Yankees because they suck. Same for the Cowboys. Suck.

[Emucratic]

12:14 AM on 06/08/2010

Let me sum it up for you: If you want a really good phone, buy an iPhone 4. If you want a GREAT phone buy the EVO 4G.

[Susan Murray]

01:34 PM on 06/08/2010

What does "better" phone have to do with anything? Beta was way better than VHS, yet VHS was more accessible. The EVO may have a few more bells and whistles than the iPhone, but can grandma configure a video call? 6 months from now EVO will go the way of Zune (which everyone agreed was better than the iPod) while the iPhone will be the #1 phone on the market.

[nowpolitics]

01:42 PM on 06/08/2010

Nice try. NOT. Grandma can use an EVO and any other Android phone. I understand that BMW does not sell more cars than Toyota but I love my 3-series and you will have to drive one to appreciate why they call them the 'ultimate driving machine'.

[gvscmr]

07:34 PM on 06/08/2010

You had better check your facts... RIM Blackberry has nearly double the market share of Apple and Droid growth is twice the growth of Apple.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/02/google-makes-biggest-gain-in-smartphone-market-share.ars

[WildTango]

04:46 PM on 06/08/2010

There are benefits and drawbacks to both. Googles app store is way behind, and will always suffer because they have so many different types of devices running the platform. (I own a HTC Hero, so I get to see this firsthand.) QA must be tough on devs, given that some phones have trackballs, some have physical buttons, some have physical keyboards, and some have no external buttons at all. Not having input standards means more work for devs to get their apps working on all platforms. Add to it that several apps have been pulled by Google after release for maliciousness and you see why the iPhone's closed app store is a good thing from a consumer's point of view.

That said, the iPhone has some weaknesses, too. With an Android phone, you can put shortcuts directly onto your apps screens. I have an entire page that is my favorite contacts. The moment I unlock the phone my 12 closest friends are a single tap away from being reached. It also has some great widgets that add additional functionality to the phone with little effort required.

One phone is not better than the other. They both have strengths and weaknesses. If you are debating, get some hands on time with both. Ask friends about their experiences and what they would most like to change.

[nowpolitics]

08:03 PM on 06/07/2010

What we need to know about HTC EVO 4G:

Access to 4G speeds that are up to 10x faster than 3G
Dual-mode 3G/4G device, access to dependable 3G speeds and accelerated 4G available
4.3-inch screen
Two cameras, including rear 8.0 megapixel with LED flash and a front 1.3 megapixel camera.
1 GHz Snapdragon™ processor
Mobile Hotspot capable (Use up to 8 devices)
3G speeds where available
Android™ 2.1 (upgradable to Android 2.2)
GPS Navigation enabled (Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation from Sprint or Using Google Navigation)
Memory card slot (Expandable to 32GB, 8GB card included)
Voice input on every field (if you can type, you can say it)
Endless user interface customization

.....Now get this: for $79.99 per month ($69.99 + $10), you will get unlimited calls to any mobile phone in US + 450 minutes to landlines + Unlimited data, text messaging, web browsing. (NO Cap whatsoever) all on the Sprint NOW network

[Susan Murray]

01:35 PM on 06/08/2010

See my comment above.

[Sam Alkhateeb]

01:42 PM on 06/07/2010

got mine few days ago....best phone on the planet ...hands down...!!

[TexasDem0]

10:16 AM on 06/07/2010

Where's the part about what we need to know?
There wasn't anything here that wasn't already public knowledge.

[zfire]

10:37 AM on 06/07/2010

Right? Huff is getting on my nerves.

[tsog]

11:14 AM on 06/07/2010

yeah seriously lame and ridiculous article.what we need to know about....whateva whateva i eat editors like you for breakfast..!

[SanityForOnce]

08:41 PM on 06/07/2010

The battery life sucks. ;-)